LB 970 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to submit a state plan amendment seeking federal approval to add early literacy promotion and intervention services to well-child visits under the existing Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. This change would directly affect children under 21 covered by Nebraska Medicaid who receive routine well-child checkups. The bill mandates that these visits include screenings and interventions for early literacy development, integrating this service into the current EPSDT framework. The key mechanism is the submission of a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for approval. This policy change would expand the scope of preventive services provided during standard pediatric visits for Medicaid-eligible children.
Nebraska's LB 855, the Youth Early Intervention and Support Act, creates a state-supported system for schools to identify and assist students showing early signs of distress. It requires all public school districts to form teams - including school staff, community health workers, and family advocates - to monitor specific indicators like chronic absenteeism, declining grades, behavior changes, or hygiene concerns, and connect students to support services instead of punishment. The system uses existing school and community resources to coordinate trauma-informed care, mental health referrals, and basic needs assistance while complying with federal privacy laws (FERPA/HIPAA). The bill directly affects Nebraska students in public schools and school districts, aiming to reduce juvenile justice and child welfare involvement through early, collaborative intervention.
Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 833 changes how state colleges prioritize degree programs. It establishes a four-tier priority system: first for education bachelor's degrees, second for graduate programs in education and other fields, third for applied research, and fourth for specialist degrees. The bill specifically requires Chadron State College (western Nebraska), Peru State College (southeast Nebraska), and Wayne State College (northeast Nebraska) to limit new undergraduate programs based on their regional needs. It also allows these colleges to independently offer certain master's and doctoral programs after demonstrating capacity and securing approval from the Board of Trustees and the state education commission.
LB 755 adopts the Emergency Service Peer Support Act to establish confidential peer support programs for emergency service employees, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, correctional officers, and hospital staff. The bill defines "peer support" as structured programs where trained peers provide emotional, practical, and resource-based assistance to colleagues facing personal or professional challenges, with all communications kept strictly confidential. It mandates that peer support sessions begin with the peer confirming confidentiality and prohibits disclosure of these sessions in any legal, disciplinary, or administrative proceeding. This law protects employees from having private discussions used against them while ensuring peer support remains a safe, accessible resource for mental health resilience.
This bill allows Nebraska nonprofits to host "music bingo" events where winning is based on song titles, artists, or music genres instead of traditional numbered bingo. It raises the maximum prize value for bingo games from $25 to $50 and updates rules for special event bingo. The changes directly affect licensed nonprofit organizations operating under the Nebraska Bingo Act, enabling them to offer music-themed games and higher-value prizes while maintaining existing licensing requirements. The bill amends key sections of the Nebraska Bingo Act to clarify definitions and update prize limits.
LB 1015 amends Nebraska's Employment Security Law by redefining "agricultural labor" to clarify which farm-related work qualifies for unemployment insurance coverage. It changes how the combined tax rate for unemployment insurance and state tax is calculated, affecting businesses paying these taxes. The bill also modifies the Business Innovation Act to create a new fund, update legislative findings, and adjust requirements for "qualified action plans." These changes aim to streamline tax administration and align provisions across related statutes.
This bill changes the tax rate applied to gross lottery proceeds collected by Nebraska counties, cities, and villages under the County and City Lottery Act. The current law requires a 1.2% tax (as stated in "one two percent" in the original text), but the bill amends this rate without specifying the new percentage. Taxes would continue to be submitted quarterly to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Charitable Gaming Operations Fund. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.
LB 1129 updates Nebraska's Community Development Law to modernize how cities address blighted areas. It redefines key terms like "affordable housing" (now including workforce housing and housing for households earning under 150% of county median income) and "area of operation" (expanding to include land outside city limits under specific conditions). The bill changes property acquisition rules, eliminates outdated provisions about land outside city boundaries, and requires expedited review for certain redevelopment plans. These changes directly affect cities, redevelopment authorities, and property owners in designated blighted areas.
Nebraska's LB 753 amends the Protection Orders Act to ensure military protective orders are recognized and enforced within the state. It requires peace officers to check if a military protective order exists when arresting active-duty military members and to notify the issuing authority if violations are suspected. The bill also allows military protective orders to be admitted as evidence in Nebraska court proceedings for protection orders. This directly affects military service members, their families, and civilians seeking protection orders involving military personnel. The change harmonizes state law with federal military protections without creating new obligations.
LB 921 adopts Nebraska's version of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. It requires employers with 25+ employees to provide 60 days' written notice before a business closing or mass layoff affecting 25+ workers, directly impacting Nebraska businesses and their employees. The bill mandates that notices include details like the affected site, expected dates of job losses, and job titles, while keeping employee names confidential with the Department of Labor. Employers must notify both affected workers/their representatives and the Department of Labor before implementing such changes. This replaces Nebraska's previous, less specific requirements with a standardized notice process.
This bill updates Nebraska's emergency protective custody rules for individuals posing a mental health or safety risk. It clarifies that law enforcement may temporarily hold people suspected of being mentally ill and dangerous or dangerous sex offenders, requiring a 36-hour mental health evaluation by an independent professional before release. The bill specifies where individuals must be held (medical facilities first, then jails if no emergency), details documentation requirements for officers, and assigns payment responsibility to counties or tribes for Indian country cases under tribal law. These changes apply directly to people in emergency custody and the county/tribal facilities managing their care.
This bill would allow Nebraska to cover supportive housing services through Medicaid by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval. It establishes a "Housing First" approach - providing permanent housing without conditions (like sobriety requirements) paired with voluntary support services such as housing transition, tenancy stabilization, and care coordination. The bill creates a dedicated fund to cover both Medicaid-eligible services and non-Medicaid housing costs (e.g., short-term rental assistance). It directly affects Nebraskans experiencing or at risk of homelessness by expanding access to stable housing with integrated support.
